This is set after Exit Wounds and is definitely not my usual kind of story.
Jack is having trouble remembering things after being buried for nearly 2000 years. Ianto helps him feel a bit better about it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Jack had come back into the Hub, clearly upset, and gone straight to his office.
Ianto made coffee while thinking about what could have made Jack so upset but he couldn't think of anything. Jack had left saying that he needed air, which after being buried for nearly 2000 years was understandable. He hadn't been upset when he left. He hadn't been happy, but he hadn't been upset either, and nothing Ianto could think of would cause Jack to become this upset. Not from just walking around the Plass.
Ianto knocked lightly on the office door before going in, giving Jack time to compose himself if he wanted to. He walked in to find Jack slumped over his desk, head buried in his arms and hiding his face. His body language alone told Ianto that this wasn't about Tosh and Owen dying. Not that he thought that was it in the first place.
Ianto set the mugs down carefully and rubbed Jack's back in gentle circles.
"What's wrong Cariad?" Ianto asked softly.
"I can't..." Jack paused and shook himself, looking up at Ianto while he did.
"You can't what Cariad?" Ianto asked, seeing pain in Jack's eyes that had nothing to do with losing two team members.
"I went to get coffee. I thought I would give you a break. You never take enough breaks, even when it is only us. But I couldn't...I CAN'T remember how you like your coffee." Jack said quietly. "It sounds stupid with everything else going on, but there are so many things that I can't remember."
"Jack...Cariad, you spent nearly 2000 years buried alive. Of course you are going to forget some things. And it isn't stupid to be upset."
"But I don't want to forget you." Jack whispered. "I never want to forget you."
Ianto pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
"You may not remember what kind of coffee I like, but you remember me, who I am, and that is what is important. The little details don't really matter as long as you remember the whole."
Jack smiled at his young lover and kissed him softly, just a gentle press of lips.
"And it was only 1981 years." Jack said in mock anger. "Don't make me any older than I am. I really don't need help in that area. And technically, only 1874 of those years were actually spent buried. The other 107years were spent frozen in Torchwood, so I don't know if they really count." Jack chuckled as Ianto kissed him again. "And here I was thinking you were good with numbers."
"Let's go down that hatch of yours and I'll show you just how good I am." Ianto purred. "Who knows, it may help you remember some things. Although you may forget a few others for a while."
"Promises, promises."
Jack smiled and led the young man down into his bunker.
AN: The next chapter will be the Face of Boe. Technically character death.